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Thursday, February 16, 2012

As Seen On TV

Is it just me, or are there quite a few shows with adoption story lines now? Maybe I am just noticing because we're adopting but there seems like a lot - Grey's Anatomy, Smash, Glee, Modern Family, Once Upon A Time among others. Maybe it's the trendy thing to do. Some shows portray adoption in a positive light, and others not so well, but it does raise the awareness level.

There was a lot of controversy about Glee's portrayal of Quinn having a hard time after she placed her daughter for adoption. She was sabotaging the mother, acting out, trying to get the baby back. This would probably be a nightmare situation for any parent who has adopted. I know I felt a little emotional about it. But I think it was honest to show Quinn having a hard time. Birth mothers are grieving the loss of their child. They have just made a heart wrenching decision and it will take some time to heal. I feel like Glee caved to pressure and wrapped up the story in a neat little bow. It is supposed to be a comedy, right?

Once Upon A Time really gets on my nerves. I like the concept of the show, the fairy tale intertwined with modern day life, but having the evil witch as an adoptive mother and the birth mother who comes to rescue everyone irks me a lot. It is just irresponsible to portray an adoptive parent as evil. What if someone was watching who is considering adoption? What if an adopted child is watching? It puts the wrong idea out there. I keep hoping the evil witch will have some redeeming qualities, but I don't think that is going to happen.

Modern Family cracks me up each week. This show embraces all types of families and I think that's great. I loved the episode when the social worker came for the adoption home visit after Cameron and Mitchell had been in a fight for a few days about cleaning the kitchen. The house was a total wreck when the social worker came over. It was hysterical.

It's good people are talking about adoption and thinking about it as just another way families are created.